SOAPS UNDER SHADE – Cynthia Hall, departing executive director of the Osterville Historical Museum, chats with Sarah Magruder of Barnstable, who’s staffing the Summer House Natural Soaps stand at the Osterville Farmers’ Market. The soaps, made by Ann Miller in Barnstable, have evocative names such as Cape Cod Garden, Sweet Clementine, Patchouli Zest, and Nantucket Sea Clay. Hall, who’s off to a new job in Africa, discovered that Magruder had spent time there as well.

Unique offerings from local vendors

The Osterville Farmers’ Market is back at the historical museum on the corner of Parker and West Bay roads, an open-air invitation to shun supermarket aisles and buy provisions directly from their makers.

Cheerfulness and pride were the hallmarks of the vendors visited June 1. Unique among the Cape markets is the participation of a bookstore, Osterville’s Books by the Sea.

The Market continues through the season on Fridays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.